The Proceedings of the Old Bailey

 

402.   Will. Norman ,* of  St Giles in the Fields , was indicted (with   George Broom ,   John Harrison , and   John Thomas , not taken) for stealing five Holland Shirts, value 20 s. three Cambrick Aprons, value 15 s five Cambrick Stocks, value 2 s. 6 d. two Handkerchiefs, value 2 s. five Pair of Stockings, value 5 s. one Cambrick Night cap, value 2 s. and three Sheets, value 5 s. the Goods of Sir   Jonathan Cope , Baronet , May 1 .

* One   William Norman was indicted for felony, Dec. Sessions, 1739.

  Sarah Carr . I am Servant to Sir   Jonathan Cope , on the 1st of May there was a Waggon Load of Goods carried down to Sir Jonathan's Seat in Oxfordshire; the Things mentioned in the Indictment were missed when the Waggon came thither, out of a Hamper which was in the Waggon; I saw the Butler pack them up; we had the Sheets from a Pawnbroker's.

  Joseph Doody . On Wednesday Night, the 1st of May, [The 1st of May was on a Sunday] I and   John Thomas ,   John Harrison , and   George Broom , went to St James's Market, and stole a Fowl, (Norman was not with us then) we carried the Fowl to his House to have it dressed (he is a Shoemaker, as he pretends) and they would not dress it for us; he offered to buy it of us, and he gave us a Penny a Pound for it, and we spent the Money in Gin at his Mother's House - they kept a little Gin-shop, and harboured nothing but Thieves, and then he shewed us the Waggon, it stood by the Crown, within a few Yards of his House, he said, there was some Wine in the Waggon, and he gave me a Cafe-Knife out of his own Drawer to cut the Hamper open; I cut the Hamper open, and he took the Linnen out and run into the House with it; Norman opened the Bundle, and bid us a Guinea and a half for our Shares, among us four; he would not let us open it, so we agreed to take the Money; he took out three Holland Shirts, and put one upon his Back; then we went up to Hampstead, for fear it should be discovered; I saw the rest of the Things in the Morning, and he pawned three Sheets to make up the Money for us, and he owes us half a Crown now; there were five Pair of  Thread Stockings, two Pair of Womens Shoes, &c. we had 7 s. a-piece.

Q How often have you been an Evidence here?

Doody. But once, that was against one +   Thomas Havril , about twelve Months ago, for stealing a Cheese.

+ Dec. Sessions, in this Mayoralty. See Trial, No. 13. Page 9.

Q Does the Carrier set up his Waggon at the Crown Inn in St James's Market ?

Carr He sets up in Smithfields; the Waggon stood all Night in the Street; the Crown-Inn is the Corner of Hog-lane in St Giles's

Prisoner. Did you carry the Fowl to my Mother's House, or to mine?

Doody. I cannot tell whether it is your Mother's House or your's; I do not know who pays the Rent.

  William Linden . I sat out at six o'Clock in the Morning, but the Waggon was by the Crown-Inn about five or six in the Evening - All the whole Load was Sir Jonathan's; I hired a Person, and gave him a Shilling to watch the Waggon, and then I went to Bed.

Q Are you sure it was the 1st of May, because that was on a Sunday?

Carr. I was not just sure as to the Day, and I thought I had better under do it than over do it; it was on a Thursday.

  William Matthews . I am Servant to Mr Pardien the Pawnbroker; I took in three Sheets of the Prisoner's Mother, she said, her Name was Norman - she always went by the Name was Norman - I saw the Prisoner bring some Holland Shirts - his Mother fetched them out - his Mother asked 12 s. upon the Sheets, and she had 12 s. I thought her to be an honest creditable Woman, and so made no Scruple of taking them in.

  Sarah Carr . This is my Master's   Mark I. C . and the Cloth is like ours, I take them to be my Master's Sheets.

- Ward. I wash for Sir Jonathan, and I take this to be his Mark.

Doody. Before the Prisoner went to pawn the Shirts, his Wife picked the Letters out with a fine  Needle.

Q. From what part of the Shirts were the Marks taken.

Doody. Cut of the Gussets of the Shirts.

- Ward. Some of the Shirts were marked on the Gussets, and some on the Skirts - I cannot tell where those Shirts were marked that were lost.

Q. Did the Prisoner use to come and pawn Things?

Matthews. Yes, his own wearing Apparel, and sometimes other Things, but I thought they might be his Mother's; I always before this Accident took him to be a very honest civil young Man.

  Jane Poole . I am a Fruiterer in Covent Garden Market; I have been there these sixty Years - I am threescore and twelve, or thirteen; I have heard the Gardeners give the Prisoner a very good Character.

  Elizabeth Poole gave him the Character of an honest industrious young Man.

  Matthias Smith . I have known him about a Year, never heard any Ill of him.

  William Gawthorn . I have known him about three Years, and he always had a very honest Character.

  John Vanryse . I have known him sixteen or seventeen Years - I do not think he would be guilty of committing a Robbery.

  Barney Bailey . I have known him about a Year and an half, he lodged opposite to me, in Leg-Alley in Long-Acre; I believe him to be a very honest Man; I have been in his Company many a Time. Acquitted .